Tumor-localizing radionuclides in heterotransplanted human tumors in nude mice

Abstract

These data show that the tumor-localizing radionuclides 57Co-bleomycin and 67Ga-citrate have preferential uptakes when compared in different heterotransplanted human tumors in nude mice. The uptake appears to be related to intrinsic tumor characteristics rather than tumor size. Of the tumors tested, such preferential uptake was lacking for 131I-norcholesterol. In nude mice bearing two different tumor types, greater uptake was noted in the faster growing and more vascularized lymphoma than the slower malignant Schwannoma. It is concluded that nude mice can be used successfully for screening new an potentially useful tumor-localizing radiopharmaceuticals.